Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael: The Men Behind the Art
Inspired by the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c.1504, dive deeper into the lives of these masters and explore their most iconic works in Florence, Rome and Milan.
With Rocco Forte Hotels in the heart of each city, we’ll guide you on a truly immersive journey through the Renaissance.
Florence: The Cradle of Renaissance Innovation
Begin your artistic journey in 1500’s Florence where all three artists lived. Leonardo and Michelangelo spent their formative years here, the young Raphael arrived to observe their drawings for the walls of Palazzo Vecchio. Standing outside it today you’ll see a replica of Michelangelo's ‘David’ overlooking Piazza della Signoria, testament to his artistic brilliance.
Find Michelangelo’s original monumental marble sculpture at the Accademia Gallery, a ten-minute walk north of Hotel Savoy. Continue your exploration into his life and work at his house, Casa Buonarroti, then stroll three minutes to the beautiful basilica of Opera di Santa Croce to pay homage at his tomb.
Our trio of Renaissance masters meet once more in the Uffizi Gallery. Each has a room dedicated to their work and talents. Make your way to the Raffaello room and carefully study his ‘Madonna of the Goldfinch’. Leave time to admire Leonardo’s celebrated ‘Annunciation’ and Michelangelo’s ‘Tondo Doni’. Then continue your exploration of Raphael’s works at the Pitti Palace, home to the largest collection of his paintings in the world.
Rome: Michelangelo and Raphael as rivals
Although cordial at first, it was in Rome that Michelangelo and Raphael became fierce rivals, competing for prestigious commissions. Chief among them was Pope Julius II. We have him to thank for Michelangelo’s unrivalled frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael, not to be outdone, left his own mark on the Vatican. His frescoes decorate four rooms within the pope’s private apartment. Guests at Hotel de la Ville can elevate their Vatican experience with ‘A morning with the key keepers’, strolling among incredible artworks including Michelangelo’s moving Pietà, as the city awakes.
Living in the Eternal City for his last decade, Raphael’s artworks blaze a trail across the city that hosts his final resting place – in the Pantheon, his tomb illuminated by the setting sun.
Milan: Leonardo and The Last Supper
Leonardo’s celebrated masterpiece, ‘The Last Supper’, still adorns the former convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – a 15-minute drive from Rocco Forte House where guests can contact their House Concierge for advice on securing tickets.
In Milan’s Sforza Castle, picture Leonardo working on the frescoed ceiling of the ‘Sala delle Asse’. Pause to admire Michelangelo’s last work, the elegant Pietà Rondanini, and his death mask opposite.
Milan was also pivotal in Raphael’s career, and the city still holds two of his most important works. One, a preparatory drawing for the fresco in the Vatican’s ‘Stanza della Segnatura’, displayed in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. The other, ‘The Marriage of the Virgin’, graces the walls of the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most important cultural institutions in Milan.
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504 is at the Royal Academy of Arts in London from 9th November 2024 - 16th February 2025. Guests of Brown’s Hotel can enjoy preferential access to the exhibition through two exclusive offers – An Artistic Escape in Mayfair, which includes tickets, or VIP Friday: Your Renaissance Retreat, which includes a private viewing. Both packages include an exhibition catalogue signed by the curator and dining experiences at Charlie’s.
You may also like
A World Within: Europe’s Most Enthralling Opera Houses
As the gentle glow of each ornate chandelier begins to dim, a hush descends upon the audience before an all-consuming world of tragedy and triumph unfolds. Both exhilarating and deeply moving, a night at the opera has the distinct power to evoke emotion, while offering a unique insight into a perhaps unfamiliar city.
Journey through Europe’s symphony of unmissable opera houses, each steeped in history and grandeur.
Dream Portraits: Turning subconscious desires into art
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” said the magician Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. But what if the wild and illusive contents of our imaginations could become something tangible? In partnership with Roman artist Matteo Nasini, Hotel de la Ville’s Dream Portraits project invites guests of its suites and the Rocco Forte House private residences to have their dreams brought to life through visual and audible artworks.
Imagining the Impossible: 100 Years of Magritte & Surrealism
In October of 1924, amidst the anxieties and disillusionment of a post-war world, a revolutionary movement was born: Surrealism. This artistic rebellion, driven by the exploration of the subconscious and the rejection of conventional reality, forever altered the landscape of art. Within its ranks, René Magritte emerged as a master of the unsettling, a weaver of dreamscapes that continue to challenge our understanding of the world.